Process and apparatus for yarn winding



June 3, 1941. G. M. KARNS PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR YARN WINDING Filed Oct. 31, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 h 4, 1\ Eg Wk yea/ 1m?! INVENTOR ATTOR N EY June 3, 1941. s. M. KARNS PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR YARN WINDING Filed Oct. :51, 19:59 a Sheets-Sheet 2 99 u. iwffarm INVENTOR ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY June 3, 1941.

G. M. KARNS Filed Oct. 31, 1939 face Zacifly face w W m w t m n E I e V M W m ME W I m W? n 8W. Em w W Mum m w K J J 8 H i w 19 M w 8 .G/

Patented June 3, 1941 George M. Karns, Williamsvllle, N. L, assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours 8; Company, Wilmington, Deb, a corporation of Delaware Application October 31, 1939, Serial No. 302,105

11 Claims.

This Invention relates to a new and improved method and apparatus for winding filaments, yarns, threads or the like, on a supporting element such as a bobbin. More particularly the invention relates to a method and apparatus for first winding a length of yarn on that section of a yarn supporting element on which the wound cake is to be wound, then winding a length of yarn on the section of the yarn supporting element which is to project beyond said wound cake, and then winding the yarn on the supporting element to form said cake in the usual manner. The loop of yarn thus projecting from the end of the cake may be used as a transfer tail when a plurality of yarn cakes is to be successively unwound, for example, in a beaming operation. The present invention has particular'utility in the winding of yarn on a bobbin in the bobbinspinning processfor the production of yarn.

In the winding of yarn on yarn supporting elements, it has long been known to first wind a transfer tail on that section of the supporting element which is to project beyond the subsequently wound cake. When a plurality-of pack-' ages of yarn, wound in this manner, is later to be successively unwound in a textile operation, the transfer tail may be tied to the outer end of the yarn on the next succeeding yarn package, and in this manner the unwinding of yarn from package to package becomes continuous.

Previously known methods and apparatus for the winding of transfer tails on those marginal portions of the yarn supporting elements which project beyond the wound cake are unsuitable for use in the winding of yarn on bobbins as it is being spun from viscose by the bobbin process.

In the first place, in accordance with the bobbin process for the production of yarn from viscose, the first 100 inches or more of yarn wound on the bobbin differs very materlallyxin quality from the remainder of the yarn wound on the bobbin and must be left on the yarn supporting element as waste when the package is being unwound.

In the second place, the yarn wound in a hard compact mass as a transfer tail at the marginal portion of a yarn supporting element, in accordance with previously known'winding methods, cannot be properly purified and will contaminate the remainder of the yarn wound in the adjacent 1 cake.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for the winding of a yarn transfer tail on a yarn supporting element.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for the winding of a yarn transfer tail on a yarn supporting element in such a manner that the said tail will be left on the supporting element as waste.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for the winding of a yarn transfer tail on a yarn supporting element in such a manner that the said tail will be readily purified to the same extent as the wound cake of yarn.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The objects of the invention may be accomplished, in general, by winding a predetermined length of yarn on that section of a yarn supporting element which is subsequently to contain the wound yarn cake, then winding at least one loop of yarn on the marginal section of the supporting element which is subsequently to project beyond the wound yarn cake, and then winding the yarn cake on said supporting element in a conventional. manner.

In applying the invention to a viscose process bobbin-spinning machine, the yarn issuing from the coagulating bath will be strung to the bobbin in the usualmanner, and then either placed by the operator or automatically hooked in a device which will operate to first wind the known length of poor quality yarn upon the bobbin, then to place at least one winding or loop of yarn so near the end of the bobbin that the loop will not be covered by the subsequently formed cake,

and finally to wind the yarn cake in a conventional manner.

At the end of the spinning operation, the winding or loop of yarn projecting from the end of the cake can be cut and will be available for use as a transfer tail so that the perfect yarn wound on a series of bobbins may be unwound in a continuous manner while the lengths of poor quality yarn remain on the bobbins as waste.

The details of the invention will be more Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3, and showing the relative position of a wind-up bobbin.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 3 and showing the relative position of a wind-up bobbin.

Figure 6 is a rear elevational view of another form of apparatus for winding transfer tails in Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings,

reference numeral 26 designates a conventional form of the type of bobbin used in winding gel regenerated cellulose yarn in the bobbin spinning process. The bobbin 26 is provided with a pinrality of openings 22 through which wash water and other purification liquids are passed when the cake 24 has been wound thereon. The bobbin may be rotated by means of a surface drive roller'or by means of a rotating spindie ina known manner.

The yam, after passing through the coagulating and regenerating bath is wound about the rotating bobbin 26. A reciprocating yarn trav-' 'erse guide 26 containing a continuous slot 26 of z'ig-zag design, as shown in Figure 1, is positioned adjacent the bobbin. Upon traversing in the right-hand direction, as shown in the drawing, the yarn 32, which is passing from the coagulating bath to the bobbin, moves upwardly along the edge 30 of the traverse guide until it reaches the'entrance 34 to slot 26. The-yarn enters the slot and the end wall 66 of the slot pushes the yarn in the right-hand direction to the end of the right-hand traverse. As the guide 26 changes its direction of traverse, the yarn slides to the bottom' of end wall 36, then as the guide moves in the left-hand direction, the yarn moves along the slot until it bears against wall 36 which forces it to the left. Upon each successive change in direction of the traverse guide, the yarn slides downwardly and is traversed successively by end walls 46, 42, 44, 46, 46,

50, and 52 of slot 26. The end wall 48, being' spaced farther to the right than end walls 66, 46, 44, and 52, will necessarily cause the yarn to be traversed to the right beyond that section of the bobbin upon which the yarn cake will be wound, and thus lays a loop 54 on the bobbin, which loop will project beyond the end of the yarn cake. After the projecting loop 54 has 'been laid ,on the'bobbin, the yarn is traversed to the left by the end wall 50. The yarn then slides into thesection of the slot defined by end wall 52 and remains in the slot section to "be traversed back and forth until the cake has been wound.

The cake 24 may then be purified by forcing purification liquids through openings 22 of the bobbin 20. After the cake has been purified, and

if desired dried, the loop 54 may be cut at one end thereof and the loose yam end tied to the outer winding of another bobbin which will sueceed the first bobbin in a textile operation. The length of yarn laid on the bobbin before the projecting loop 54 is wound thereon will remain in the stud 66.

on the bobbin as waste. The length of yarnv which is to be discarded as waste will depend upon the number of ofl-sets in the slot 26, the length of the traverse stroke and the speed of winding.

Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings, reference numeral 66 designates a modified form of traverse guide for winding a quantity of waste yarn on the section of the bobbin on which the cake is wound and then winding a projecting loop of yarn for use as a transfer tail. The guide 66 comprises a slot 62 containing an enlarged section 64 in which a freely rotatable stud 66 ispositioned. The stud 66 is provided with a helical groove on the external periphery 1 thereof. The 'slot 62 then ends in a narrow section 66. i

As the guide 66 moves in the right hand direction, as shown in the drawings, the yarn 32 which is strung onto the wind-up bobbin 20 moves upwardly along edge '16 of the guide until it slides into slot 62. The yarn slides onto the grooved stud 66 and by frictional contact with the stud causes the latter to rotate. Upon rotation of the stud, the helical stud groove carries the yarn toward the right-hand end of the stud. Uponrea'ching this end, the yarn slides from the stud 66 and moves into section 68 of slot 62. The yarn remains in section 68 during the winding of the cake 24. Because the stud is located to the right of the section 68 a plurality of loops of yarn I2, 14, 16, or I6 will be wound'upon the bobbin at the end of every rightward stroke of the guide until the yarn finally drops from the stud and becomes positioned in the section 66. While the Figure 5 shows several such loops, to be formed, the exact number in any given case will depend on the length of the helical groove above. In any case, the amount of yarn discarded as waste will be determined by and be equal to the length of the helical groove formed 7 The stud must necessarily be of such dimension as to contain upon its surface a helical groove of this desired length.

In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7,

a stud 60 is connected to theframe 62 of the winding apparatus. The stud '66 is positioned parallel to the bobbin and is spacedfrom the automatic pick-up traverse guide 64 so as to prevent the guide 64 from contacting the yarn until after the waste yarn and transfer tail have been wound on the bobbin. A freely rotatable roller 66, containing a helical groove, is positioned on the end. of the stud. The outwardly projecting end 86 of the roller must project beyond that section of the bobbin'upon which the cake is subsequently to be wounds In-stringing the yarn 62 on to the empty bobb n-26; it is passed over the left-hand end (as viewed in the drawings) of the roller 66. The frictional contact of the yarn with the roller causes the latter to rotate, and the helical groove in the roller moves the yarn to the right until it drops from the end of roller 66. After the yarn drops from roller 66, it assumes its normal winding position as shown in full line in Figure 7. When in its normal winding position, the guide 64- in its reciprocating traverse automatically picks up the yarn and causes it to be positioned in notch 92, in which it remains positioned until the cake has been wound.

Since the outwardly projecting end 88 of the roller projects beyond that section of the bobbin 20 on which the cake 24 is to be wound, a plurality of windings 90 will be laid onthe bobbin beyond the end of the yarn cake. The winding 90 which lies farthest from the end of the cake may be severed at one end and the yarn end used as a transfer tail. The amount of yarn to be discarded as waste will be determined by and be equal to the length of the helical groove formed in the surface of the roller 86. The groove must, of course, be deep enough to hold the yarn therein throughout the travel of the yarn along the length of the groove.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate another modified bar around to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 10, at which point the yarn automatically becomes disengaged from hook I24. This turning of bar I20 would take place too quickly in the absence of some means to slow down the turning movement. The escape wheel I26, which is connected to a lever escapement mechanism of form of device for use in accordance with the present invention. In this modification, in place of the stud and roller mechanism of Figures 6 and 7, a pair of bars I00 and I02, each containing a plurality of pegs, is used. The bars I00 and I02 are positioned at an angle to -the axis of the bobbin so that the yarn will have a tendency to slide along the bars and drop from the outwardly projecting ends thereof. The bars must also be spaced from the automatic pick-up traverse guide 00 to prevent contact of the guide with the yarn until after the waste yarn and traverse tail have been wound. The bar I00 is made stationary while bar I02 is connected to a periodically reciprocating mechanism (not shown) The bar I02 must be reciprocated from a position, sufficiently below bar I00 that pegs Al, A2, A3 A9 will not contact the yarn, to a position sufiiciently above bar I00 that pegs Bl, B2, B3 B0 will not contact the yarn.

In stringing the yarn to the emptybobbin 20, the yarn is first passed over bars I00 and I02. Bar I02, being in its uppermost position, the yarn will slide to the right (as viewed in the drawing) until it contacts peg AI. Upon lowering bar I02 to its lowermost position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, the yarn will slide to the right until it contacts peg B2 of bar I00. Upon raising bar I02 again, the yarn slides to peg A2.. Upon each successive raising and lowering of bar I02, the yarn alternately slides into contact with pegs B3, A3, B4, A4 etc. until its drops from the end of bar I 02. The yarn 32 is picked up by the traverse guide 04. Since the bars project beyond that section of the bobbin on which the yarn cake will subsequently be wound, (seeFlgure 8) a plurality of yarn windings I04 will be laid on the bobbin beyond the yarn cake. The outermost winding I04 may be cut at one end and the yarn end used as a transfer tail. The length of yarn to be discarded as waste will be determined by the speed of reciprocation of bar I02, the number of pegs on the bars, and the speed of winding.

Referring toFigures 10 and 11, another device islllustrated whichv may be substituted for the stud and roller mechanism shown in Figures 6 and 7. The bent arm I is journaled in sup}- port I22. One end of bent arm I20 is provided with a hook I24-and an escape wheel I26 of a lever escapement is fixed on the other end. The bent bar may conveniently be positioned on one side. of the bobbin and an automatic pick-up traverse guide on the other side of the bobbin as illustrated in Figure 11. The bent bar is brought around to the position shown in full lines in Figure 10. The yarn is then strung on to the empty bobbin and looped over hook I24 of bar.

I20, The tension on the yarn tends to pull the speed of winding.

the type shown in Figure 12 of the drawings, prevents the rapid turning of bar I20.

The position of hook I24 at the point where the yarn slides therefrom must overlie a section of the bobbin beyond that on which the yarn cake will be formed so as to lay a plurality of windings I28 on the bobbin which will project from the yarn cake. The outermost winding I28 may be cut and used as a transfer tail. The length of yarn to be discarded as waste will be determined by the number of teeth on the escapement wheel, the tension of the yarn, and the The conventional lever escapement mechanism shown in Figure 12 is illustrative of one form of mechanism suitable for use in controlling the rotation of bar I20. Obviously, other known means can be employed in place of the escapement mechanism to control the rotation of bar I120. On the other hand, the bar l20 may be connected, for example by gearing, to a motor and thus be operated in a positive manner by an external mechanical force rather than by the movement of the yarn and the tension imparted thereby. Such a method is very desirable in a case where the yarn being wound upon the bobbin is not strong enough to cause the bar to move against the action of the escapement means or other controlling mechanism.

By the practice of the present invention, it is possible to wind a predetermined length of inferior yarn on a bobbin, which length will automatically be discarded as waste in a subsequent continuous unwinding of the yarn from a plurality of yarn cakes. Nearly all of the waste yarn will be wound under the yarn cake and will be purified during the regular purification operations and, therefore, willnot later contaminate the yarn in the cake. By use of this invention it is unnecessary to rewind yarn in order to discard inferior or improperly purified yarn.

' form a yarn cake or package.

Numerous modifications for accomplishing this essential series of winding steps are described and illustrated above. Obviously, the present disclosure will enable others to make many changes and modifications in the above-disclosed devices without departing from the nature and spirit of the present invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details above-described except as set forth in the appended claims. I

I claim:

1. The method of winding a continuous yarn on a supporting element for the production of a yarn cake which comprises winding a length of said yarn on that section of a yarn supporting element on which the wound cake is subsequentlyto be wound, then winding a length of said yarn on that section of the yarn supporting element which is to project beyond said wound cake, and v then continuing thewindingof the yarn on said first-named section of said supporting element to form said cake.

2. The method of winding a. continuous yarn on a supporting eiementfor the production of a yarn cake which comprises winding a length of said yarn, while traversing the yarn back and forth, on that section of a yarn supporting element on which the wound cake is subsequently to be wound, then winding a length of said yam on that section of the yarn supporting element which is to project beyond said wound cake, and

then continuing the winding of the yarn on said first-named section of said supporting element to form said cake.

3. In an apparatus for winding a continuous yarn for the production of a yarn cake, in combination with a rotating yarn supporting element, means for guiding a lengthof said yarn on to that section of said element on which the yarn cake is subsequently to be wound, means for guiding a subsequent length of said yarn on to another section of said element, and means for guiding a continuing portion of said yarn on to said first-named section of said element for the formation of said yarn cake.

4. In an apparatus for winding a continuous yarn for the production of a yarn cake, in combination with a rotating yarn supporting element, a yarn guide, means on said guide for guiding a length of said yarn on to that section of said element on which the yarn cake is subsequently to be wound, means on said guide for guiding a subsequent length of said yarn on to another section of said element, and means on said guide for guiding a continuing portion of said yarn on to said first-named'section of said element for the formation of said yarn cake. 5. In an apparatus for winding a continuous yarn for the production of a yarn cake, in combination with a rotating yam supporting element, 9. yarn guide having a slot comprising a plurality of slot sections oil-set from each other, at least one of said slot sections arranged to guide a length of said yarn on to that section of said element on which the yarn cake is subsequently to be wound, at least one of said slot sections arranged to guide a subsequent length of said yam on to another section of said element, and a slot section arranged to guide a continuing portion of said yarn on to said first-named section or said element for the formation of said yarn cake. 6. In an apparatus for winding a yarn cake, in combination with a rotating yarn supporting element, a yarn guide, a slot in said guide, a freely rotatable member, having a helical groove, connected to said guide, said memberpositioned relative to and in communication with a section of tion, arranged to guide said yarn on to said element for the formation of said yarn cake.

7. In an apparatus for winding a continuous aaeasaa yarn for the production of a yarn cake, in combination with a rotating yarn supporting element, as yarn traversing guide, means, spaced from said guide, for winding one length of said yarn on to that section of said element on which the yarn cake is subsequently to be wound and another length of saidyarn on to another section of said element, said means automatically releasing said yarn after winding said lengths, and means on said traversing guide for automatically catching said yarn and traversing the same along said first-named section of said element for'the formation of said yarn cake.

8. In an apparatus for winding a. continuous yarn for the production of a yarn cake, in combination with a rotating yarn supporting element, a yarn traversing guide, freely rotatable means, spaced from said guide, for winding one length of said yarn on to that section of said element on which the yarn cake is subsequently to be wound and another length of said yarn on to another section of said element, said means antomatically releasing said yarn after winding said lengths, and means on said traversing guide for automatically catching said yarn and traversing the same along said first-named section of said element for the formation of said yarn cake. a

9. In an apparatus for winding 9. continuous yarn for the production of a yarn cake, in combination with a rotating yarn supporting ele ment, 9. yarn traversing guide, helically grooved, freely rotatable means, spaced from said guide, v

for winding one length of said yarn on to that section of. said element on which the yarn cake is subsequently to be wound and another length of said yarnon to another section of said element, said means automatically releasing said yarn after winding said lengths, and means on A yarn supporting element on which the wound cake is subsequently to be wound, then winding a length of said yarn on that section of the yarn supporting element which is to project beyond said wound cake, and then continuing the winding of the yarn on said first-named section of said supporting element to form said cake.

11. A yarn package comprising a yarn supporting element, a continuous yarn wound on said supporting element, said yarn wound with two overlapping portions thereof on; one section of said element in the form of a yarn cake, and a portion of said yarn, intermediate said overlapping portions, positioned on another section of said element and projecting from said yam cake. GEORGE M. KARNS. 

